Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

themadvix

Morning all,

Had a lovely day yesterday - saw Dad for a cuppa first thing (in the garden, obviously), went out for a drive in the mini in the morning (broke down, but we'll gloss over that - we got back, just!) and then in the afternoon invited DH's parents up for a drink in the garden under the gazebo. Mentioned to BIL and GF that they were there and we just about all managed to fit under the gazebo while maintaining social distancing (some of us we getting wetter than others!). Lit the chiminea, the parents went home and the four of us got pizza/kebab delivered for dinner. It wasn't planned, but it was lovely. I have never cleaned our downstairs loo so much in one day!

Obviously we spent on takeaway that wasn't planned, but it was money well spent and we have leftovers for lunch. May not need veg box this week, which will reduce the R'ford bill (but fruit and 'essentials' bag still coming - I am not being MSE with them lately!).

Have done two small bits of work this morning and am about to embark on project 'floors' - the kitchen and hall floors need scrubbing and I need to get the Vax out for some 'cat-related' stains. What fun! Also waiting to have a call back from former energy supplier who *still* have my money. It has at least now been escalated to a complaint, so if they don't sort it, the Ombudsman will be hearing from me... but there's a tiny bit of hope that this will get sorted. Have also noticed that current supplier don't actually appear to be billing me for my electricity use (despite them having fitted a smart meter... and the car charging etc.), so my £270 credit there may be about to fall dramatically!

MS things:
* Clicks done
* DH did get cashback on takeaway
* No food waste - it will all get eaten, including the stale loaf

Gratitudes:
* Lovely, lovely time with family yesterday - was so nice to be vaguely normal (and apart from bathroom cleaning, this lockdown entertaining is great for the lazy hostess - house doesn't need to be clean or tidy, you can't help anyone with anything, they bring their own drinks/mugs, you don't even have to get up to say goodbye!  )
* We got back OK in the mini.... it was looking like a damp, cold walk across the fields at one point!
* Cotton from Mum - did get a little bit of bunting stitching done yesterday and more planned as my treat after floor day!

Have a good day all - hope it's more exciting than floor cleaning! 

Suffolk_lass

themadvix said:

Morning all,

Had a lovely day yesterday - saw Dad for a cuppa first thing (in the garden, obviously), went out for a drive in the mini in the morning (broke down, but we'll gloss over that - we got back, just!) and then in the afternoon invited DH's parents up for a drink in the garden under the gazebo. Mentioned to BIL and GF that they were there and we just about all managed to fit under the gazebo while maintaining social distancing (some of us we getting wetter than others!). Lit the chiminea, the parents went home and the four of us got pizza/kebab delivered for dinner. It wasn't planned, but it was lovely. I have never cleaned our downstairs loo so much in one day!

Obviously we spent on takeaway that wasn't planned, but it was money well spent and we have leftovers for lunch. May not need veg box this week, which will reduce the R'ford bill (but fruit and 'essentials' bag still coming - I am not being MSE with them lately!).

Have done two small bits of work this morning and am about to embark on project 'floors' - the kitchen and hall floors need scrubbing and I need to get the Vax out for some 'cat-related' stains. What fun! Also waiting to have a call back from former energy supplier who *still* have my money. It has at least now been escalated to a complaint, so if they don't sort it, the Ombudsman will be hearing from me... but there's a tiny bit of hope that this will get sorted. Have also noticed that current supplier don't actually appear to be billing me for my electricity use (despite them having fitted a smart meter... and the car charging etc.), so my £270 credit there may be about to fall dramatically!

MS things:
* Clicks done
* DH did get cashback on takeaway
* No food waste - it will all get eaten, including the stale loaf

Gratitudes:
* Lovely, lovely time with family yesterday - was so nice to be vaguely normal (and apart from bathroom cleaning, this lockdown entertaining is great for the lazy hostess - house doesn't need to be clean or tidy, you can't help anyone with anything, they bring their own drinks/mugs, you don't even have to get up to say goodbye!  )
* We got back OK in the mini.... it was looking like a damp, cold walk across the fields at one point!
* Cotton from Mum - did get a little bit of bunting stitching done yesterday and more planned as my treat after floor day!

Have a good day all - hope it's more exciting than floor cleaning! 

        thank you for making me laugh!

themadvix

You’re totally welcome SL, you need a laugh!!

Floor cleaning done now - just vaxxing to do, which is never as bad as I think, I just put it off. Cuppa and catch up on here first though. 

themadvix

Morning all,

I got everything on my to-do list done yesterday! Have just done the tiny amount of work I received overnight and my clicks etc, so need to get a plan together for today. Am meeting a friend for a walk later - minor success is we're meeting in the middle, rather than nearer her (thought she'd opt for that) - saving me petrol (and I may call in on Mum as she's just round the corner, depending on time/weather). Free parking too. We've got a family quiz night tonight with DH's family. My tax return is loosely on my to-do list for this week, but I think I'll save it for a rainy day - it's too nice today to spend it indoors thinking about taxes.

Have finalised my orders for R'ford and supermarket delivery on Thursday - not a cheap week, but then we've not had a major shop in 4 weeks and it does include gin, which DH will pay for, and a foodbank donation.

Still waiting on the energy supplier - more let downs there. Problem is that you can't just ask to speak to someone higher up - because they're all wfh, they have to call you back. And they just aren't! It's very frustrating. The person I spoke to yesterday did raise it as a complaint, so at least there's officially a complaint in now, so if I have to go to the Ombudsman the countdown has started. I'm losing the will with it a bit though - don't really want to call again

MS things:
* Clicks done and Swago
* Used up the runny hm yoghurt in a banana smoothie for dessert last night
* Will take DH's car later - will almost manage it all on electric (not heard back about why I've not been billed for my electric!)

Gratitudes:
* The sun is back
* Catch up with a friend later
* The UK hasn't used coal in over two months - hooray! (Aside from the news, this is something that DH and I keep an eye on anyway)

Have a good day all!

Suffolk_lass

When we moved here it took us almost three years to persuade the electricity supplier to send us a bill. Then they wanted it all paid immediately. They reluctantly agreed to spread payments over a year and then six months later, they sent a letter proposing to treble the monthly payment. After several calls we changed supplier - the customer dis-service department were hopeless and took no ownership of the problem which was all of their own making. We had installed a new range that was electric and had totally underestimated the usage. They did not have a means to update the customer record to stop the auto-issue of a recalculated bill and the staff in the so-called service centre had no authority (or maybe willingness) to move. The smart-!!!!!! remark from a call centre operator that moving our "debt" would be of no loss to them means I remain happy to recount the tale of appalling service. It was Powergen, now E-ON.

themadvix

Morning all,

SL, that seems ridiculous, and I'm not surprised that you're still cross with them. I spoke to someone in the debt department at the old energy supplier (because the push-button options weren't clear) and she was pretty lacking in customer service skills - no apology or niceness at all (without being downright rude). It makes you wonder what sort of training they have! However, our current supplier is dual-fuel, and they're billing us for gas and taking the DD for the full estimated amount, so there's no debt building up, just huge credit in our account (Octopus are great in the respect that you can amend your DD online, no questions asked, so I've reduced it from the really high level it was when we were charging the car on the non-car tariff). I should have noticed before really, but just didn't pay attention to the fact they send me emails about the gas every month, but not the electricity!

Had a lovely walk with friend yesterday and then called into Mum's garden (and loo!). We had a potato salad for lunch and then shakshuka for dinner with added spinach. Today's food will be using up the remnants of the veg box ready for tomorrow's delivery. I feel much happier when we're on top of the fridge situation! Quiz last night with DH's family was good - tricky (several educated guesses), but good and better still, we won!

I have a couple of small bits of work to do this morning and by the looks of my inbox, several surveys to do too.

Gratitudes:
* Lovely weather yesterday afternoon for our walk - and we sat on the grass for a while and chatted too.
* Shakshuka recipe will be added to the repertoire - it was tasty and easy
* Rain this morning - the garden needs it (and it saves me watering )

Have a good day all!

ETA:
MS things done:
* Clicks
* YG survey
* PC survey
* 1P survey
* Maximiles profile updated - points awarded
* Gfk TV survey points turned into comp entries - fingers crossed!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Unable to get the one bit of work done this morning due to technical issues at the other end. Have emailed my client, doubt it'll be an issue. Otherwise, I've chased a bad debt and completed my tax return! Do I want to reduce payments on account for next year? Probably, but not a clue by how much. I left it as it was - apparently if you overdo it, HMRC will charge interest on the difference!

R'ford delivery has arrived and supermarket one due later. Gutted that my strawberries have been swapped for doughnut peaches - my new strawberry plants aren't big enough yet to produce strawbs, so I was really looking forward to these! However, very impressed with the essentials bag - 4 garlic bulbs, 4 lemons, basil, coriander, 3 chillis and a large lump of ginger - seems good value. Have made the carrot tops into pesto (by hand), but think I'll probably freeze it as we'll have pasta tonight.

Had a bit of a lazy day yesterday - didn't achieve much but did go for a walk and have a nap in the afternoon. Feeling more energetic today. Have also finally thought of a decent Fathers' Day gift - just got to coordinate with Sis and then it's done (had been struggling to come up with ideas).

MS things:
* Tax return done!
* R'ford delivery S&S'd
* Clicks done
* 1P surveys done
* 2 x PA surveys
* Fed the plants

Gratitudes:
* Lovely, lovely fresh food delivery
* The end of a rolling pin and a pyrex bowl - good for crushing pesto nuts!
* Ice cream coming tonight

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Morning all,

We had a lovely weekend. Wimpole on Friday was great, we had an early slot and got there while it was still blissfully quiet - walked all around the parkland (which I've never done before) and enjoyed a snack of Belgian bun whilst sitting on a fallen tree watching ewes and their lambs. It was really lovely to escape - once away from the car park and toilets there was nothing to remind you of the madness in the world. Saturday we did housework, baking etc. and mum came up for a cuppa and a walk. Yesterday DH and I went for a 40 km cycle - our furthest yet, and it did leave me exhausted! But the countryside was beautiful and we're so much fitter than we were just a few weeks ago - it's really encouraging. And we stopped for an ice cream at the halfway point

I've finished my work this morning, which isn't exactly great, but I have received 100 euros towards the bad debt I chased last week, with more to come hopefully. So pleased I followed it up!

Trying to focus on quality over quantity - hoping the lockdown will have broken some of my bad habits like easy meals out at mediocre places in favour of more infrequent, but more special  meals at more independent businesses. This extends to buying more organic, quality produce and staying in nicer (and more ethical) places, while still ensuring we have enough to OP/invest. It's a tricky balance.

Last week I ordered a batch of ingredients to make some beard oil for DH's lockdown beard as his anniversary present. I can write about this here, as I had to tell him when he went and shaved the beard off! I will still make some - he's not going back to the office until September at the earliest, so reckons the beard will probably reappear, and I'll have some ingredients for some of the other homemade beauty/skincare recipes that abound online.

MS things:
* Got some very expensive ice creams taken off my delivery as they were substitutions - I'd ordered £3 for 6 choc ices, received £6.89 for 6 choc ices. Got to keep them too. While they are very nice, there's no way I'd pay that much for some ice creams!
* Apart from the ice cream, all food home cooked from my bumper R'ford delivery - we're eating very well and nothing is going to waste.
* Broad beans, spring onions and raspberries ready in the garden, and the rhubarb has recovered
* Clicks done
* NV survey done
* No plans to go to the shops! (But I do need to get chicken for the cats)

Gratitudes:
* Escape at Wimpole
* Lovely, if challenging, cycle
* Fresh raspberries from my canes! They taste amazing!
* Clients who pay, even if they need a nudge

Have a good day all!

Suffolk_lass

That trip to Wimpole sounds wonderful. Your cycling is putting us to shame. We need to get on and buy the electric bikes we have been prevaricating over since January - and we have a 15% off voucher from Raleigh!

themadvix

Haha, that wasn't the comment from my family, SL, who all asked 'why?', even my cycling uncle!

I'm still ploughing on with my heavy old bike bought when I was 11, which has a frame that is too small for me. Can't decide on what sort of bike would suit us best. Mine is a hybrid (but was considered a kid's mountain bike-type thing when it was bought for me), DH has recently bought a much newer hybrid, leaning towards a mountain bike - it has heavier tyres than mine. But we're not entirely convinced about off-roading - I don't get the thrill from the 'high-speed downhill, the next bump might chuck me in the nettles' feeling (although I'm getting more confident and going a bit faster), and DH is wishing he had more suspension. So we're thinking maybe to lean more towards a road setup, but then there's the traffic (we've been lucky and on very quiet roads so far, but as we go further?). And then, if I actually sell my car, I would want an electric for longer more purposeful journeys, but I'm not sure I do for leisure cycling (I have muscles in my legs that I haven't been able to feel before)... I can see me ending up with more than one bike if I sell the car! (And there's no room in the garage for that!) So at the moment, until we're a) a bit more convinced we'll keep it up, and b) have come to some conclusions about what we prefer, I'll stick with my bike and dream about how much easier it would be with a lighter, bigger one! At least my second-hand Ebay saddle is a vast improvement!

Sorry, a lot of bike waffle!